Peter Hulshof* (2138) - Spanton (1825)
Mariánské Lázně Seniors 50+King's Fianchetto Opening
1.g3 e5 2.Bg2 d5 3.d3
We are in the world of reversed openings. The game starts as a Modern Defence with colours reversed and White having an extra tempo ...
3...Nf6 4.c3
... now it is a reversed Pribyl with White having an extra tempo ...
4...Be7 5.Nf3
... and now White has an extra tempo in a reversed Pirc.
5...Nc6 6.Qc2 a5 7.0-0 0-0
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| By a slightly unusual route the game has reached a position occurring 59 times in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database |
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8.e4
This and 8.Nbd2 are the popular continuations.
8...Re8 9.h3 h6 10.Re1 Bf8
Stockfish14.1 and Komodo12.1.1 reckon Black has an edge after 10...d4!? 11.cxd4 exd4.
11.Nbd2 Be6 12.b3 Qd7 13.Kh2 Rad8 14.Bb2
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| How should Black proceed? |
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14...g6?
The engines reckon Black is better after the active 14...dxe4 15.dxe4 Bc5, and probably also after the immediate 14...Bc5. The text prepares to redevelop the bishop to g7 but gives White time to generate an initiative based on the weakness of e5.
15.exd5 Bxd5 16.Ne4 Bg7 17.Rad1 b6 18.c4!?
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| What should Black play? |
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18...Nb4?
The position is equal, according to the engines, after 18...Bxe4 19.dxe4 Qe7.
19.Qb1
Even stronger seems to be the engines' 19.Qe2!? Bxe4 20.dxe4 followed by capturing on e5 with either bishop or knight.
19...Ba8?!
Almost certainly better is 19...Bxe4 20.dxe4 Qe7, although again the e5 pawn drops.
20.Nxe5 Qf5 21.f4
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| Can Black play 21...Nxd3 to win back the pawn? |
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No.
21...Nxd3?
It was better to play on a pawn down, albeit without any compensation.
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| What is White's winning move? |
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22.Nxf6+!
Black is at least equal after every other continuation, according to the engines.
The game finished:
22...Bxf6 23.Rxd3 Bxg2 24.Kxg2 Bxe5 25.Rxd8 Rxd8 26.Qxf5 gxf5 27.Bxe5 1-0
*PH is 49 but qualifies for the tournament as his 50th birthday is this year.
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| I guess "Irish Pub" is the world's commonest bar sign |
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